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Largemouth Bass

Fish

The largemouth bass is a carnivorous, freshwater fish of the sunfish family native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico, and the largest member of the black bass group; a 2022 study concluded the species properly carries the scientific name Micropterus nigricans, with the closely related Florida bass now recognized separately as Micropterus salmoides. Prized by anglers for its fighting resistance when hooked, it is the official state fish of Georgia and Mississippi and the state freshwater fish of Florida and Alabama, but its popularity has led to introductions well beyond its native range, where it has become invasive and has driven the decline, displacement or extinction of native species through predation and competition.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 1
System (Realm)
Freshwater 1
Threats
Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 1
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status (w-bfill-g5-0924 browse backfill).
Scientific Name
Micropterus nigricans 2
A 2022 taxonomic revision split the species long called largemouth bass in two: the fish long known as largemouth bass is now Micropterus nigricans, while the name Micropterus salmoides was reassigned to the Florida bass, formerly treated as a subspecies.
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Connections

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Largemouth bass
  • diet-classification (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    The largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is a carnivorous, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico.
  • threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    However, they have become an invasive species in some areas, causing the decline, displacement or extinction of native species through predation and competition.
  • human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    It is a highly prized sport fish among anglers for their vigorous resistance when caught, and have been introduced to many regions due to their popularity in bass fishing and tolerance to urban streams.
  • system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    The largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is a carnivorous, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico.
View the Source
2. Largemouth Bass (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Taxonomy, lead section
    A 2022 study concluded that the correct scientific name for the Florida bass is Micropterus salmoides, while the largemouth bass is Micropterus nigricans.
  • Infobox, conservation status
    Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
View the Source
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.In Biome: LakeView the Source
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